Big Grassy First Nation (Mishkosiminiziibiing Anishinaabeg in the
Ojibwe language
Ojibwe ( ), also known as Ojibwa ( ), Ojibway, Otchipwe,R. R. Bishop Baraga, 1878''A Theoretical and Practical Grammar of the Otchipwe Language''/ref> Ojibwemowin, or Anishinaabemowin, is an Indigenous languages of the Americas, indigenous la ...
) is an
Ojibwe
The Ojibwe (; Ojibwe writing systems#Ojibwe syllabics, syll.: ᐅᒋᐺ; plural: ''Ojibweg'' ᐅᒋᐺᒃ) are an Anishinaabe people whose homeland (''Ojibwewaki'' ᐅᒋᐺᐘᑭ) covers much of the Great Lakes region and the Great Plains, n ...
or Ontario
Saulteaux
The Saulteaux (pronounced , or in imitation of the French pronunciation , also written Salteaux, Saulteau and Ojibwa ethnonyms, other variants), otherwise known as the Plains Ojibwe, are a First Nations in Canada, First Nations band governm ...
First Nation band government
In Canada, an Indian band (), First Nation band () or simply band, is the basic unit of government for those peoples subject to the ''Indian Act'' (i.e. status Indians or First Nations). Bands are typically small groups of people: the largest in ...
located in
Rainy River District, Ontario near
Morson, Ontario.
Together with the
Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation, Big Grassy First Nation is a successor apparent to the former Assabaska Band of Saulteaux. Its registered population in February, 2012 was 721, of which the on-reserve population was 228. It is a member of the
Anishinabeg of Kabapikotawangag Resource Council, a regional tribal council that is a member of the
Grand Council of Treaty 3
Grand Council of Treaty 3 (GCT3) is a political organization representing 24 First Nation communities across ''Treaty 3'' areas of northern Ontario and southeastern Manitoba, Canada, and four additional First Nations, specifically in regard to the ...
.
Reserves
The First Nation have reserved for themselves six
reserves:
*
Big Grassy River 35G, which serves as their main reserve,
*
Lake of the Woods 35J,
*
Naongashing 35A,
*
Obabikong 35B,
*
Assabaska, which is shared with
Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation, and
*
Agency 30, which is shared with 12 other First Nations.
Historically, the Assabaska Band of Saulteaux had also reserved for itself:
* Little Grassy River 35E
but it was not surveyed. On paper, two additional reserves were recommended to be set aside to augment Little Grassy River 35E:
* Little Grassy River 35E1
* Windy Point 35E2
but without consultation with the Assabaska Band, all three reserves were disposed upon creation of the
Lake of the Woods Provincial Park. Other reserves of the Assabaska Band were parted to the Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation upon dissolution of the Assabaska Band.
Governance
Big Grassy First Nation is governed by Chief Lynn Indian and 5 councillors: Deborah Ludeman, Elvis Adams, Jeff Morison and Glenn Archie. Their elected two-year term ends on January 6, 2021.
History
Seven Generations Education Institute (SGEI) is an
Aboriginal-owned and controlled
post-secondary
Tertiary education (higher education, or post-secondary education) is the educational level following the completion of secondary education.
The World Bank defines tertiary education as including universities, colleges, and vocational schools ...
institution co-founded by the ten bands in the Rainy Lake Tribal area in 1985. The ten bands are: Big Grassy, Big Island,
Couchiching,
Lac La Croix,
Naicatchewenin,
Nigigoonsiminikaaning,
Ojibways of Onigaming,
Rainy River,
Seine River
The Seine ( , ) is a river in northern France. Its drainage basin is in the Paris Basin (a geological relative lowland) covering most of northern France. It rises at Source-Seine, northwest of Dijon in northeastern France in the Langres p ...
and
Mitaanjigaming. Each of the ten bands appoints one member to a board of directors of Seven Generations Education Institute, which works under the leadership of the executive director.
References
External links
official websiteprofile from INAC
First Nations governments in Ontario
Saulteaux
Communities in Kenora District
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